Vast amount of knowledge

If, only knowledge guaranteed success?

No, this began as a quest for happiness.

No, happiness was always the goal.

In the fading smoke

A smile

A young boys smile.

A young boy's smile is consumed by the raging fire and the passing of time.

As time goes on, one's individuality erodes.

The young boy came to understand, within the eternity of time- no one is special.

The only characteristic that humans hold, is that we are not special.

In a world dictated by a few

Laws hypocritical

Humans pretentious

How can one dream, if one's dream is ultimately towards the benefit of the resourceful?

Can one dream outside of this?

No, not in this world- not in any world.

Where there is competition

There is bound to be exploitation

There is bound to be the erosion of the human condition

There is bound to be a decrease in humanity

As we go through this metamorphosis

Can a caterpillar dream to be a butterfly?

I say no.

But this is a story of a caterpillar's dream.

What is the value of life?

This is my lament.

On a rainy day, on the outskirts of a small town. A woman hops across rubble, earlier there was a protest between the demigods and the humans. In  her hands a baby, cuddled up by a piece of cloth that resembles a blanket.

The cloth has many holes, and from time to time- raindrops land on the child's delicate skin. However, as the material gets soaked, the child does not awaken from his innocent slumber.

Smoke permeates the air.

It will soon be evening in the village of Adhab. The sky is dark, due to the ash from burnt buildings. This village has countless people residing within the rubble. A scene of many demolished huts and burnt fields appears. The woman quietly makes her way across the entrance of the village.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

An elderly man, wearing a dusty tattered thobe appears. The thobe is so tattered that it resembles a flag of struggle. He quickly rushes to the barefooted woman covered fully in a grey cloak. He quickly grabs the baby and asks.

“It is not safe here Aya, whose baby is this?”

Aya looks at the infant in a distressed manner.

“He had been alone in the building, I heard him crying as I fled the demigods”

The man has a look of understanding and sympathy

“poor kid, okay hurry- he will reside with us for as long as we live. May God curse those who have caused this to our people.”

The man quickly runs into what was once a peaceful village with the baby in his hands and the woman quickly follows.

The village over the next few years managed to rebuild all the demolished huts. As time passed, the farming land experienced many rains and as the days of ashes disappeared, the farmlands soon became green and there were many harvests.

All over the world, the demigods slowly wreaked havoc and it seemed like an instant- 7 years had passed. Within these 7 years, the humans and demigods managed to reach an agreement that forbade demi gods from killing humans. This came as a shock as the humans were always in a losing position due to having no access to a power called “resonance,” a power that was shrouded in mystery but could instantly release a blast of fire or ice at a specified location from millions of kilometers away. Due to such power, humans were always subjected to slavery, and torture amongst many practices. The agreement meant that humans were now equal to demi gods insofar as they could now attend academies, work hard, and reach their full potential. The demigods then left the planet of Ryo back to their planets and the humans who facilitated this agreement rose to power and commanded the entire country.

1st day of Spring of the year 9001.

In this world, children would begin attending academies at the age of 7 in the hopes of obtaining a better future. These academies would then proceed for 11 years after which the brightest students would be given the opportunity to enter advanced academies and then obtain skills necessary to work for large organisations and the rulers of the country.

On this day countless children were currently having their hair combed and being clothed in their neatest attire for their first day in the academy. Within a small hut, a woman was quietly combing a child's hair. The child was tall, of medium complexion skinny, and looked ordinary. His black curly hair complemented his dark brown eyes. On his face was a wide smile that permeated his innocence.

“Hakim you must do your best, your real life begins now. If you do well in the academy, you will have a bright future working for the rulers or big organizations. Your mum has high hopes for you.”

The sun was rising, yellow light shone through the windows. The light shone onto the child's eyes- illuminating his dark brown pupils.

The young boy's name was Hakim, he looked at his mum- great ambition shone from his eyes. “I will do my best.”

Hakim inwardly thought to himself

“Mom and Grandfather have placed their hopes in me. Grandfather always says that one can achieve anything he puts his mind to, I will do my best and maybe relocate Mum and Grandfather to the inner city where all the wealthy people live.”

[knock knock knock]

Hakim’s thoughts were interrupted by three soft knocks on the hut door. Even though the knocks were soft, every time a knock was made- dust seemed to spring from the wide gaps between the grain of wood.

“Come in Dad,” Hakim's mother said in a joyful tone

An elderly man entered slowly as if he had difficulty walking. The man had a long white beard and wrinkles under his brown eyes that indicated a life of struggle. The man wore a black thobe made out of cotton, the thobe’s design clearly indicated that it had been handmade and not bought.

The elderly man slowly walked towards Hakim and placed his hand on the boy's curly hair.

“HAHA Hakim my boy, you have grown so big and strong. From today you walk on the path of independence- make sure you make grandfather proud.”

The old man had a smile on his face as he continued.

“I am here to take you to the academy within the city where you will live the next 11 years of your life.”

The old man turned to Hakim's mother

“little Aya, you have done well all these years- this young bird will leave its nest today- say your goodbyes and send him to me outside.”

Hakim’s mother looked to be in her 30s, she wore a long black cloak- she had straight brown hair and light-colored eyes. Her complexion was pale and currently, there were tears in her brown eyes. She quietly nodded as the man left the hut. She then turned to Hakim and said.

“Make sure to visit every semester” She then told him to turn around and put on his backpack for him. As Hakim’s back was turned she stealthily put something in his bag.

Hakim left the door and saw a large house waiting for him.

“Alright let's get going” The old man quickly lifted Hakim onto the horse and also climbed on it. The horse began moving, and the village that was quiet slowly began to crowd up as people came out of their huts. They then made a pathway for the horse and crowded it on both sides. Everyone within this crowd seemed happy.

“HAKIM GOOD LUCK!!” A boy chewing on a piece of bread said.

“Hakim you rascal, don’t forget about us” An elderly woman shouted.

“Village leader Ayn, take care of HAKIM” A woman screamed.

All this time, Hakim slowly began to shed tears- he did not want to leave but that was the only way for him to help his mother and village.

The old man, who went by the name Ayn was the village leader. As the horse approached the entrance- he slowly remembered a seen buried at the back of his mind. A scene of his daughter running into the village barefooted and in tattered clothes holding a baby. He then looked at Hakim and inwardly sighed.

At this very moment his daughter, Hakim's mother was on the floor kneeling as tears flowed down her eyes- she had this exact thought as she said to herself.

“Who would have thought that 7 years ago, that by meeting Hakim by chance he would bring me such joy and happiness- I already miss him”

Over the next couple of days, Hakim and his grandfather journeyed through the woods, buying food and staying in every town they passed. After a week, they arrived at the academy doors. The grandfather helped Hakim get registered and accommodation. The grandfather expressed that he would soon be leaving him and wished him the best, with that Hakim stood by the academy gate, feeling immense sadness and loneliness as he looked at his grandfather ride the horse into the sunset.

When the grandfather was out of sight, Hakim finally shed the tears he was holding back

“AHHHHHHHH” As the sun set, Hakim's voice could be heard in the background.

His journey was about to begin.